Anti-aging and nutraceutical characterization of plant infusions used in traditional medicine

Abstract

Objective: The present study was conducted to evaluate the nutraceutical and anti-aging potential of 7 Plant Infusions (PI) used in traditional medicine. Methodology: In vitro collagenase inhibitory (Col-I), in vitro elastase inhibitory (Ela-I) and in vitro hyaluronidase inhibitory (Hya-I) activities of plant infusion were determined. Percentage of Inhibition Activity (IA) for both anti collagenase and anti elastase assays was calculated. Total Phenolic Content (TPC) and Total Flavonoid Content (TFC) of plant infusions was determined. Condensed tannins content was analyzed using the acidified vanillin reagent. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey test for comparisons among means with a significance level of 5%. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine correlations among means. Results: Results showed that Paullinia cupana seeds and Camellia sinensis leaves exhibited the highest content of total phenolic, flavonoid and condensed tannins. All the samples showed great radical scavenging activity (227.74-788.04 µmol TE/g PI) in the ORAC assay and also exhibited high in vitro antihypertensive activities (IC50, 0.0000113- 4.3333300 µg mLG1 against angiotensin-converting enzyme). Cochlospermum vitifolium plant infusion was the only one able to inhibit the 50% of the activity of aging-related enzymes (elastase, collagenase and hyaluronidase). Conclusion: Overall, some of the evaluated extracts presented high antioxidant capacity and in vitro inhibitory potential of the enzymes assessed, thus they could be added to food matrices as plant-based materials with nutraceutical and anti-aging effects on human skin and health.